Faculty Directory

The aim of this study is to detemine if the addition of almonds to a habitual diet is associated with a change in blood lipds in a free living population. Secondary analysis of existing data from an observational study conducted from 1997-1999 will be conducted. Descriptive statistics (mean and SD) will be calculated for subject characteristics and outcome variable at baseline. Paired t-tests will be used to test for differences between diets of continuous variables in the exposure and outcome. Gender-specific tests of significant difference in blood lipids will include mixed linear models and multivariate analysis.

Correlates of Childhood Exposure to Soy and Growth Patterns ( 7/2007 - 6/2009 )

The nutritional adequacy of vegetarian diets to support normal growth and development among children has been questioned for a number of years and continues even today. It is also timely as US consumption of soy is increasing, and use of commerical ingredients such as soy protein concentrate is becoming more prevalent in such foods as cereals, energy bars, soy-based ice desserts, and meat analogues, which are popular among children and adolescents. Published data show that compared to meat-eaters, children described as vegetarians and lacto-ovovegetarians achieve normal growth, but pre-adolescent girls described as lacto-ovovegetarians are shorter. Vegetarians also tend to be leaner than non-vegetarians. This study conducted secondary analysis of existing data on 870 Seventh-day Adventist children ages 6-17 years to examine the concerns regarding the effect of soy intake on growth patterns and the onset of menarche. Outcome variables included anthropometric (height, weight and arm circumference) and age of menarche data, as well as BMI. Data was from the Loma Linda University Child Adolescent Blood Pressure Study (CABP) chort, that included individuals with a wide rage of soy intake, yet with similar characteristics of lifestyle habits and socioeconomic status.

Factors associated with lipoprotein-associated phospolipase A2 in AHS-2. (Co-investigator: Ella Haddad, DrPH, RD)

( 10/2011 - Present )

The purpose of this study to identify the dietary and lifestyle determinants of circulating concentrations of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) in calibration study participants of the Adventist Health Study 2 (AHS-2) cohort. Calibration study participants contributed fasting blood samples which have been stored in liquid nitrogen vapor at -180^oC since collection. Calibration subjects also provided six 24-h telephone dietary recalls.

Funded Research Project (CI)

Dietary, lifestyle and clinical predictors of circulating concentrations of lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine in AHS-2 Calibration study participants. (PI: Ella Haddad, DrPH, RD)

The goal of this research project is to investigate associations between dietary and lifestyle patterns and circulating concentrations of lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine in Calibration study participants of the Adventist Health Study 2. Although controversy still exists as to whether these biomarkers are a cause or consequence of disease processes, it is important to identify their modifiable dietary and lifestyle determinants. Little is known about the levels of these biomarkers in individuals consuming vegan and vegetarian diets and the Calibration study participants provide us with an opportunity to explore these relationships.

( 10/2011 - Present )

Cancer epidemiology in Adventists ( 7/2004 - Present )

Abstracts Reporting Research -- Peer Reviewed

Jaceldo-Siegl, K. Tantamango-Bartley, Y, Fraser, G. Dietary patterns and cancer risk in a low-risk population. 2011 American Institute of Cancer Research Conference, Washington, D.C., November 2011.

( 11/2011 )

Sirirat R, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Beeson WL, Oda K, Fraser GE. The association of metabolic syndrome and serum carotenoids. 3rd North American Congress of Epidemiology, Montreal, Canada, June 2011. Am J Epidemiol, 173(Suppl 11):S119, 2011. ( 6/2011 )

Rizzo NS, Sabaté J, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Fraser GE. Vegetarian dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome. The Adventist Health Study 2. 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Seattle, WA, June 2010. Am J Epidemiol, 171(11):S119, 2010. ( 6/2010 )

Fraser GE, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Oda K, Batech M. Correlations between biomarkers of dietary intake and intake measured by repeated 24 hour recalls. 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Seattle, WA, June 2010. Am J Epidemiol, 171(11):S119, 2010. ( 6/2010 )

Jaceldo-Siegl K, Fan J, Fraser GE. Validity correlations between food intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-hour dietary recalls in the Adventist Health Study-2. 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Seattle, WA, June 2010. Am J Epidemiol, 171(11):S6, 2010. ( 6/2010 )

Jaceldo-Siegl K, Akbar JA, Fraser G, Herring RP, Yancey A. "The contribution of Soul and Caribbean foods to nutrient intake in a sample of Blacks of US and Caribbean descent in the Adventist Health Study-2." Am J Epidemiol 163.Suppl (2006): S31-S31. ( 6/2006 ) Link...

Jaceldo-Siegl K, Burke K, Fraser G. "Distribution of soy intake in a Western population: The Adventist Health Study-2." FASEB J 20.5 Part2 (2006): A855-A855. ( 3/2006 )